散步
我们在田野散步：我，我的母亲，我的妻子和儿子。母亲本不愿出来的。她老了，身体不好，走远一点儿就觉得很累。我说，正因为如此，才应该多走走。母亲信服地点点头，便去拿外套。她现在很听我的话，就像我小时候很听她的话一样。
这南方初春的田野，大块小块的新绿随意地铺着，有的浓，有的淡，树上的嫩芽也密了，田里的冬水也咕咕地起着水泡。这一切都使人想着一样东西——生命。
我和母亲走在前面，我的妻子和儿子走在后面。小家伙突然叫起来：“前面是妈妈和儿子，后面也是妈妈和儿子。”我们都笑了。
后来发生了分歧：母亲要走大路，大路平顺：我的儿子要走小路，小路有意思”。不过，一切都取决于我。我的母亲老了，她早已习惯听从她强壮的儿子；我的儿子还小，他还习惯听从他高大的父亲；妻子呢，在外面，她总是听我的。一霎时我感到了责任的重大。我想找一个两全的办法，找不出；我想拆散一家人，分成两路，各得其所，终不愿意。我决定委屈儿子，因为我伴同他的时日还长。我说：“走大路。”但是母亲摸摸孙儿的小脑瓜，变了主意：“还是走小路吧。”她的眼随小路望去：那里有金色的菜花，两行整齐的桑树，尽头一口水波粼粼的鱼塘。“我走不过去的地方，你就背着我。”母亲对我说。
这样，我们在阳光下，向着那菜花、桑树和鱼塘走去。到了一处，我蹲下来，背起了母亲；妻子也蹲下来，背起了儿子。我和妻子都是慢慢地，稳稳地，走得很仔细，好像我背上的同她背上的加起来，就是整个世界。
Going for a Walk
We went for a walk in the field; my mother, my wife and my son.
Initially, my
mother was not keen to come out. She was old and not in good heath. She felt
exhausted with long walks. I said to her: “You need to walk more because of
that.” She nodded with belief, and went to get her coat. Nowadays, my mother
listened to me, just like I listened to her when I was a child.
It was an early
spring. The open country, with big pieces and small pieces of farmland, was
covered in green. Some pieces were heavy and others light. Tender leaves on the trees were getting
thick; winter water in the fields started glistening. All of these reminded people
of one thing – Life.
My mother and I
walked in the front, followed by my wife and son. All of a sudden, my son
shouted: ”In the front are mother and son; at the back are also mother and son.”
We all laughed.
Later on, we had a
decision to make. My mother wanted to get on
the main road since it was flat. My son, however, wanted to take the track
because it was fun. In the end, they would all look to me for a decision.
Mother was old; she had become used to listening to her strong son. My son was
still small and he would go with his big Daddy’s suggestion. My wife, as usual,
always agreed with me when we were out. Instantly, I felt a strong sense of responsibility.
I wanted to satisfy both sides but there was no way to do so. Then, I wanted to
split the group into two and each could choose what they wanted. But we could
not agree on that. On second thought I decided to let my son make the
compromise. I would have a much longer time to be with him in the future. I
said: “Let’s take the main road.” But my mother had changed her mind by the
time I said so. She rubbed my son’s little head and said: “Let’s take the
track.”
She looked into
the direction of the track; there was an expanse of golden rape flowers; along
the track, two parallel rows of white mulberry. At the far end was a pond with
clear ripples. “ Carry me if we come across anywhere I can’t walk pass.” My
mother said to me.
In the sun, we headed towards the golden rape flowers,
the white mulberry and the pond. We came to a place where I knelt down to carry
my mother on my back. My wife also knelt down and carried my son. Steadily and slowly, my wife and I walked with
great care, as if we were carrying the entire world.
